Mr. Paul Combe is the President and CEO of American Student Assistance, a nonprofit organization aimed at empowering students before, during and after college to make better decisions around the planning and financing of higher education, and the repayment of student loans. Since joining ASA in 1996, Mr. Combe has led the organization through a process of strategic change and renewal that repurposed its focus from the traditional guarantor role to student loan "wellness" -- proactively engaging student loan borrowers to prevent repayment problems before they begin, thereby inspiring their long-term financial success and good credit standing. Under Mr. Combe’s leadership, ASA has steadily increased the number of borrowers in good standing; consistently achieved delinquency and default rates half the national average; and helped thousands of borrowers avert the economic problems associated with delinquency and default on federal student loans. Throughout his tenure at ASA, Mr. Combe has advocated for the role of proactive, objective, nonprofit education debt management and borrower advocacy services in the federal student loan program. He has spoken at numerous industry events and conferences, as well as before members of Congress on making student debt more manageable.

Prior to joining ASA, Mr. Combe served as president and CEO of both Knight College Resource Group and the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority. He also served as Director of Financial Aid at Boston College. Mr. Combe has served as the Alumni Representative of the Framingham State University Board of Trustees since 2007.

Mr. Combe received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education Degrees from Framingham State University.